March 1, 1981: Refuses to concede demands of Irish Republican Army convicts for prisoner-of-war status in Northern Ireland, inspiring a hunger strike. Ten inmates starve to death over following seven months.

Sept. 14, 1981: Dumps or reassigns most of her moderate ministers in Cabinet reshuffle.

April 2, 1982: Argentina invades Falkland Islands, a British territory in the South Atlantic. Thatcher sends a naval task force that recovers the islands after a 74-day war.